[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 22 (Thursday, February 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1496-S1498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Santorum, Mr. Breaux, Mr. 
        Cleland, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Feingold, Mrs. Feinstein, 
        Mr. Harkin, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Levin, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Nelson 
        of Florida, Mr. Reid, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Torricelli, Mr.

[[Page S1497]]

        Brownback, Mr. Chafee, Mr. Cochran, Ms. Collins, Mr. Corzine, 
        Mr. Specter, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Miller, and Mrs. Carnahan):
  S. 355. A bill to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins 
in commemoration of the contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
to the United States; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
Affairs.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a bill which 
is long overdue. February is a particularly appropriate time to 
introduce this legislation, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative 
Coin Act of 2001, as this month we celebrate Black History Month.
  Historian Carter G. Woodson began what was first called Negro History 
Week in 1926 when he realized schools were not teaching children about 
the history and achievements of black Americans. Now, for one month out 
of every year, we focus on the contributions of African-Americans 
during Black History Month. However, celebrations of the history and 
culture of black Americans should not be limited to just one month. By 
recognizing the history of black Americans every day of the year, we 
build the respect and perspective necessary to face the challenges 
before us.
  During the 1960s, a young and gifted preacher from Georgia gave a 
voice to the voiceless by bringing the struggle for freedom and civil 
rights into the living rooms of all Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King, 
Jr. raised his voice rather than his fists as he helped lead our nation 
into a new era of tolerance and understanding. He ultimately gave his 
life for this cause, but in the process brought America closer to his 
dream of a nation without racial divisions.
  It has been said that, ``Those who do not understand history are 
condemned to repeat it.'' America's history includes dark chapters--
chapters in which slavery was accepted and discrimination against 
African-Americans, women and other minorities was commonplace. It is in 
acknowledgment of that history, and in honor of Dr. King's bright 
beacon of hope, which has lead us to a more enlightened era of civil 
justice, that I introduce the Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative 
Coin Act of 2001.
  This bill would instruct the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins 
in commemoration of Dr. King's contributions to the United States. 
Revenues from the surcharge of the coin would be used by the Library of 
Congress to purchase and maintain historical documents and other 
materials associated with the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther 
King, Jr.
  As we start the 21st century, I cannot think of a better way to honor 
the civil and human rights legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
  Today, Dr. King's message goes beyond any one group, embracing all 
who have been denied civil or human rights because of their race, 
religion, gender, sexual orientation, or creed. This Congress, as well 
as previous Congresses, has taken important steps to put these beliefs 
into civil code.
  However, upholding Dr. King's dream is a continuing struggle. As a 
society, we must always remember Dr. King's message, ``that one day 
this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 
`We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created 
equal.' ''
  Dr. King's majestic and inspiring voice as he made this speech will 
remain in our collective memory forever. His writings and papers 
compliment the visual history of his legacy. Keeping Dr. King's papers 
available for public access will serve to remind us of what our country 
once was, and how a solitary voice changed the path of a nation. It 
also would be a constant reminder of the vigilance needed to ensure we 
never return to such a time.
  This legislation has been developed in consultation with the King 
family, the Library of Congress, the Citizens Commemorative Coin 
Advisory Committee, and the U.S. Mint. Similar legislation has been 
introduced in the House of Representatives by the chairman of the House 
Banking and Financial Services Committee, Congressman Jim Leach of 
Iowa.
  Although African-Americans have played a vital role in our nation's 
history, African-Americans were included on only 4 out of 157 
commemorative coins:
  Jackie Robinson who broke baseball's color barrier and brought about 
a cultural revolution with the courage and dignity in which he played 
the great American pass time, and the way he lived his life;
  Booker T. Washington who founded Tuskegee Institute in Alabama and 
served as a role model for millions of African-Americans who thought a 
formal education would forever be outside of their grasp;
  George Washington Carver whose scientific experiments began as a way 
to improve the lot in life of sharecroppers, but ended up 
revolutionizing agriculture throughout the South; and
  The Black Revolutionary War Patriots, a commemorative half-dollar 
which recognized the 275th anniversary of the birth of Crispus Attucks, 
who was the first revolutionary killed in the Boston Massacre.
  The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Coin will give us an 
opportunity to recognize the valuable contributions of all Americans 
who stood and were counted during our nation's civil rights struggle.
  Americans such as the late Reverend Avery C. Alexander, a patriarch 
of the New Orleans' civil rights movement. He championed anti-
discrimination, voter registration, labor rights, and environmental 
regulations as a six-term state legislator and as an advisor to 
Governor Morrison of Louisiana in the 1950s.
  Heroes such as Dr. C.O. Simpkins of Shreveport, Louisiana, whose home 
was bombed simply because he dared to stand by Dr. King and demand that 
the buses in Shreveport be integrated, and Reverend T.J. Jemison of 
Baton Rouge--a front-line soldier and good friend of Dr. King who 
helped coordinate one of the earliest boycotts of the civil rights 
movement.
  Louisiana also was fortunate enough to have elected leaders such as 
my father Moon Landrieu and Dutch Morial, both former mayors of New 
Orleans during those turbulent times. They led the way when the 
personal and political stakes were very high.
  These are just a few of the great civil rights leaders from my state. 
However, throughout Louisiana and all across America thousands of 
citizens--black and white, young and old, rich and poor--listened to 
Dr. King, followed his voice and dreamed his dreams. It is in memory of 
all of our struggles that I introduce this bill.
  The great Dutch philosopher Baruch Spinoza said, ``If you want the 
present to be different from the past, study the past.'' This 
legislation not only ensures we are able to preserve and study our 
past, but also honors Dr. King, who played such an integral role in 
shaping both our present and our future. Most importantly, this coin 
would serve as a reminder every day of the year, not just during Black 
History Month, of the great contributions of Dr. King and all black 
Americans who have shaped this nation's history and future.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 355

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 
     Commemorative Coin Act of 2001''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds that--
       (1) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. dedicated his life to 
     securing the Nation's fundamental principles of liberty and 
     justice for all its citizens;
       (2) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the leading civil 
     rights advocate of his time, spearheading the civil rights 
     movement in the United States during the 1950's and 1960's;
       (3) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the keynote speaker at 
     the August 28, 1963, March on Washington, the largest rally 
     of the civil rights movement, during which, from the steps of 
     the Lincoln Memorial and before a crowd of more than 200,000 
     people, he delivered his famous ``I Have A Dream'' speech, 
     one of the classic orations in American history;
       (4) Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a champion of 
     nonviolence, fervently advocated nonviolent resistance as the 
     strategy to end segregation and racial discrimination in 
     America, and was awarded the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize in 
     recognition of his efforts;
       (5) all Americans should commemorate the legacy of Dr. 
     Martin Luther King, Jr. so

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     ``that one day this Nation will rise up and live out the true 
     meaning of its creed: `We hold these truths to be self-
     evident; that all men are created equal.' ''; and
       (6) efforts are underway to secure the personal papers of 
     Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., for the Library of Congress so 
     that they may be preserved and studied for generations to 
     come.

     SEC. 3. COIN SPECIFICATIONS.

       (a) $1 Silver Coins.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
     (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') 
     shall mint and issue not more than 500,000 $1 coins, each of 
     which shall--
       (1) weigh 26.73 grams;
       (2) have a diameter of 1.500 inches; and
       (3) contain 90 percent silver and 10 percent copper.
       (b) Legal Tender.--The coins minted under this Act shall be 
     legal tender, as provided in section 5103 of title 31, United 
     States Code.

     SEC. 4. SOURCES OF BULLION.

       The Secretary shall obtain silver for minting coins under 
     this Act from all available sources, including stockpiles 
     established under the Strategic and Critical Materials Stock 
     Piling Act.

     SEC. 5. DESIGN OF COINS.

       (a) Design Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--The design of the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be emblematic of the human rights legacy and 
     leadership of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
       (2) Designation and inscriptions.--On each coin minted 
     under this Act there shall be--
       (A) a designation of the value of the coin;
       (B) an inscription of the year ``2003''; and
       (C) inscriptions of the words ``Liberty'', ``In God We 
     Trust'', ``United States of America'', and ``E Pluribus 
     Unum''.
       (b) Selection.--The design for the coins minted under this 
     Act shall be--
       (1) selected by the Secretary after consultation with the 
     Librarian of Congress, the Commission of Fine Arts, and the 
     estate of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; and
       (2) reviewed by the Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory 
     Committee.

     SEC. 6. ISSUANCE OF COINS.

       (a) Quality of Coins.--Coins minted under this Act shall be 
     issued in uncirculated and proof qualities.
       (b) Mint Facility.--Only 1 facility of the United States 
     Mint may be used to strike any particular quality of the 
     coins minted under this Act.
       (c) Period for Issuance.--The Secretary may issue coins 
     minted under this Act only during the 1-year period beginning 
     on January 1, 2003.

     SEC. 7. SALE OF COINS.

       (a) Sale Price.--The coins issued under this Act shall be 
     sold by the Secretary at a price equal to the sum of--
       (1) the face value of the coins;
       (2) the surcharge provided in subsection (c) with respect 
     to such coins; and
       (3) the cost of designing and issuing the coins (including 
     labor, materials, dies, use of machinery, overhead expenses, 
     marketing, and shipping).
       (b) Bulk Sales.--The Secretary shall make bulk sales of the 
     coins issued under this Act at a reasonable discount.
       (c) Surcharges.--All sales of coins issued under this Act 
     shall include a surcharge of $10 per coin.

     SEC. 8. DISTRIBUTION OF SURCHARGES.

       Subject to section 5134(f) of title 31, United States Code, 
     all surcharges received by the Secretary from the sale of 
     coins issued under this Act shall be promptly paid by the 
     Secretary to the Library of Congress for the purposes of 
     purchasing and maintaining historical documents and other 
     materials associated with the life and legacy of Dr. Martin 
     Luther King, Jr.

  Mr. MILLER. Mr. President, I am pleased to be an original cosponsor 
of S. 355, the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Coin Act. The bill 
would instruct the U.S. Treasury to mint coins to commemorate the many 
contributions of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The proceeds from the sale 
of the proposed commemorative coin will be used by the Library of 
Congress to purchase and maintain historical materials related to the 
legacy of Dr. King and America's Civil Rights era for future 
generations.
  The coin will be silver and will be minted under the Act for only a 
1-year period beginning on January 1, 2003.
  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was an extraordinary leader whose march 
for justice stretched far beyond the red clay hills of our beloved 
Georgia. His was a long, tumultuous journey and his vision of equality 
is one that touched the lives of so many people around this country, 
including my own.
  I will continue to do all I can to assure that we preserve his legacy 
for generations to come. It is my hope that this commemorative coin 
will become a collector's treasure and that its popularity will help us 
preserve the timeless and poignant story of Dr. King and the civil 
rights movement for our children.
  Dr. King spoke these words in his final sermon on the day before he 
died in 1968:

       Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us 
     stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in 
     these powerful days, these days of challenge, to make America 
     what it ought to be.

  I hope that every American who holds one of these commemorative coins 
in their hands will remember Dr. King's powerful message.
                                 ______